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Monthly Archives: September 2014

I told you that I was going to change the format a little on the Blog and give myself permission to deal with LIFE and POST WHEN I CAN… well things are slowing up a little and MOM is doing better so I have had some time to play and guess what here came the POP UP BOX FROM SCS…I was so surprise because several years ago I bought a card…( now don’t scream…I do buy cards for a variety of reason…lol and there are no card police so its ok) and the reason was that it was such a cute idea of making a box that could fold flat but that when it was pushed gently it would stand and have an image that appeared to pop out of the box…. well SCS outdid me …and while the one below will only fit in an A6 envelope they do have two other variations that will fit in the standard A2. But read my hint on the variations… not critical but I do think its helpful..

SCS POP UP BOX CARD

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you know that I am not good at being quite this dedicated to making cards… because I send them to a lot of people I just can’t spend the time…so as I said this is mine and it is a total rip off of the card I bought I took their card apart and cut my pieces the exact same sizes all I really did was add different image.

VARIATIONS TIP...just a quick hint… both of the variations work and I really like the horizontal one ..however both of them Suggest you score first then cut the 2″ strip off to use to make the inserts… well if you do that you will have score lines on those strips that you don’t want and that for some will make it so much harder to get the strip folded correctly to fit INSIDE the boxes… SO my suggestion is FIRST CUT OF THE 2 INCH STRIP…and lay it aside… NEXT GO BACK TO YOUR BASE and score it as written… when you are ready to insert you strips you can score the horizontal box variation strips at 1″ at each end… I didn’t try the vertical one so you will have to figure that one out yourself… any way I thought this would be helpful as I hated have score lines on the insert that I was not wanting…It doesn’t really matter as you won’t see it but it made my insert wobbly to have folded it incorrectly a couple of times… so FYI..

popboxcard_var2 horizontal

popboxcard_var1

NOW I SAID … I am too lazy ( actually I suggested I was too busy…lol) but I did like the horizontal one so I will probably do it however, several years ago I found a readymade card that was this design and I bought it took it apart and come up the very simple pattern below. It will also fit into your A2 standard envelope.

MY POP UP CARD BOX…..CUT CARDS STOCK BASE 4 x 8 1/2

Score the 8 1/2 side at 2, 4, 6 AND 8 this allows for a small 1/2 inch fold at the end which you will use to adhere the card together so that it makes a box which will fold flat for mailing..( note that due to the amount of embellishments you put on the card it will probably need the 70 cent Stamp for mailing.

TURN the base and score at the 2″ mark …using scissors cut each flap from the top down to the score mark…and for the 1/2 flap cut it off above the score mark .

At this point you can use tape ( my choice) and adhere the box together and I do it by putting the tape on the 1/2 flap and folding the card in half and sticking it together .. now you can stand it up and and push it into the box shape… you can see by their images that they remove the flap on the front of the box and while My sample didn’t I do like that better it makes your inserts easier to see and more impressive. You can also laying designer paper ( text weight) onto the squares if you wish to make it more impressive..

Cut your layers at 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 for each lap and while I don’t bother with the back one I did layer it on the top one that stays standing up behind your inserts. So you either need 4 of these or 5 .

The insert bar needs to cut at 2 x 3 and then score the 3 in side at 1/2 inch and at 2 1/2 inch… add your adhesive to the two 1/2 flaps then decide on your embellishment and I would add it at this time before you insert the bar however it can be done either way.. after the embellishments were added I peeled my tape and stuck one side in approximately the middle of the inside of the box and then gently stick the other side in approximately the same place and then try folding it flat… you may need to wiggle the other side so that it does fold flat that’s why I said stick it gently/lightly in place…

So here is what a drawing of my pattern looks like and it is removing 3 of the flaps .. because that is how the readymade card was done… however I do like the flaps so I would only remove the front flap. I would wait till you have it taped together without the insert before cutting off front flap. You can also round the corners on the box tops.

kh stand up cube pattern

kh no flaps pop up box

kh no flaps popup box

Oh didn’t you just know there had to be a halloween version… I will stamp on the orange layers later…and I have some spider brads coming….. lalalalal its the most wonderful time of the year!!!

pop up cd bxs kath

BEST FISHES …KH

EVERYONE WISHES..KH

view looking down on box kh

Well there you have it 3 different sizes and several samples as well as info on how to make them now go make something…. because while you are reading this I am at my annual retreat at Camp Huston with about 40 of my fellow calligrapher/card makers and loving every minute of my 3 night /4 day PLAY TIME…. working on my halloween cards… after all I am known as the QUEEN OF HALLOWEEN…

AS ALWAYS THANKS FOR STOPPIN BY…wire headed cyber toad…aka kath

EYE CANDY AMAZING STORM CLOUD VIDEO …you know how much I love thunderststorms well I saw this video of amazing time lapse storm clouds and I had to share …too bad there is no sound so we could hear the thunder…enjoy

Ok FLAG / TAG books or cards...I think I told you all that several years ago I used to teach card making and when I saw this card on pinterest I was pretty sure I had a pattern for it …well I did in fact and at the time we were calling it CONCERTINA due because of the way the inside was folded back and forth all the same size. IE usually about 1 inch folds. But my pattern was to in my mind make it easy we were going to each use a post card for the flags…because getting 10 people to make a quick decision of images to stamp WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN… so after I made the pattern I tried it out with some friends down at THE BEACH… we made lots of cards that day and I saved this one till last …and they HATED IT….I was bummed but I realize that they all had no experience with card making and using a post card and trying to get the pieces in the correct place to make the picture was for them a nightmare…lol… so while Both SCS and DAWN have videos on making these as mini books/albums I am going to let you decide if you have a interest in those and I am going to move forward with a simple single concertina and only 4 flags as that is the image from Pinterest.

Then the insert is made using text weight or very light card stock and its cut at 4 x 9 1/2 then fold that in half horizontally and then score 1 inch on each side of the crease..

Now you need the center fold to be a Mountain fold and the other two are both valley folds..

I cut the black flags each to be 3″ x 1″ then the orange layers are each cut 2 3/4 ” x 3/4″

Now each flag is adhered to the opposite side of the mountain fold and the bottom end is all the way up against the valley fold on that side. SIMPLE RIGHT… and while I made them the same as the card from Pinterest they can be squares or rectangles and probably eve circles but those will be a little harder to place but I am sure it can be done.

Then fold the insert card and add tape to one side at the outside edge away from the fold and then place the card inside base card and fold it and stick it as close to the outside edge of the base card… then flip it over still closed and add tape to the other side and fold the card closed to adhere it to base… TA DAH… now you only need to add any stamps, embellishments and the decor for the front .

Here are a few samples of other flag cards using more folds for the center…this is truly more a concertina then the single one is..

kh spring flat

This is an actual concertina in the insert with 6 scores and then there are nine small squares to use as the flags once the concertina has the flags installed then fold it closed and place tape on the outside edge and pull it as close to the edge of the folded card sot that the flags don’t stick out of folded card and press and adhere… flip it over and tape and adhere the other side by just folding base card closed so that when you open it it will stretch the inside so that the flags are all viewable…

kh bday flag

ok this one is actually so large that it wouldn’t work inside a standard base card so its more like a little booklet in that it has both a front and back cover and the are attached to the concertina but not to each other…

Well I hope this inspires you to try some FLAG /TAG CARDS OR BOOKLETS or both Dawn’s and SCS are photo albums or journals…

AS ALWAYS THANKS FOR STOPPIN BY...wire headed cyber toad…aka kath

PS TODAY IS MY MOM’S 89th BIRTHDAY… and even though she won’t see this HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM… love ya lots..

WAIT BEFORE YOU THROW UP YOUR ARMS AND SAY NO WAY…. this is way easier then it look… TRUST ME…SCS…will give you the complete cutting instructions and a video to show you how as well as all the measurements on the printable tutorial….. I have always liked this card and of course its one of those ones that I would suggest you cut your base card and then sit with small paper cutter in your lap and while watching TV you can cut the base. Then if you have the SCOR BUDDY( small scorPal You can also score the card…

Now the busy work comes from all the pieces that you would layer onto the base….and while I love this image I also think that sometimes less is more…. you don’t have to layer every single fold/space… you could stamp in some or you could use a punch or die and layer a piece onto the base. I like the black as it makes the other pieces stand out so well but and off white or white background is just as nice…as for your layers well use your scraps and make what ever works for you… but if you want to make several the same then I recommend that you at least cut the pieces and as always save them in a sheet protector so that you can quickly assemble when you discover you behind…lol… If it wasn’t for being behind I would have no life at all… lol…

If you go thru the written tutorial you will see at the bottom is a adaption of this card using 8 ½ X 11 CARD STOCK rather than the 12 inch card stock… I personally have more standard size card stock then the 12 ” scrapbooking kind and sometimes the 12″ while it may be lovely and double sided its often lighter weight than I would normally want ..however with this card you will probably put so many embellishments and layers on it that it won’t matter if its a little lighter to start… HOWEVER the directions for the adaption of this card are not accurate or rather they leave out the most important part which is to cut your 8 ½ X 11 ” PIECE OF CARD STOCK DOWN TO 5 ½ ” x 10 ½ “... I know this because I tried it and was pretty sure that I did not want it the full sheet of card stock so the rest of the measurements are accurate so follow them but start with a piece that is 5 ½ x 10 ½.. and it will be slightly smaller when you are finished.. Personally I like the smaller size and again probably because I tend to not put as many embellishments or layers on as they use in the sample…

This is a similar card and I really liked it also so the blue line above is the link to tutorials and video.

Watch the video and look at the tutorial and then here is my suggestion… I watched this video twice assuming I missed something but I can find absolutely no reason to cut those spaces out … if anything I think it weakens the card a little and depending on how many layers you put on the front it might not stand up plus as I said it seems like a step for no reason… like running up a flight of stairs when there is an elevator… The card works fine with those pieces in there if you want you can cut layers for those side pieces or you can just cut the smaller pieces for layering at the top and bottom… up to you and if you just have to follow directions absolutely then by all means cut out the side pieces but for me it is not worth my time and effort and just opens me up to not cutting straight or even and leaving ragged holes… so I am skipping that step…

All the other measurements are accurate and will work just find with pieces in or out. So suit yourself. This card will fit the standard size A2 envelope so no adjustments needed there.

kh modified tri shutter

HINT

With the piece on the front of the card this is going to make the card seem to have a bump and frankly it makes more sense to me to be sure I have the full 70 cents on the envelope so it doesn’t get returned …IN addition be SURE YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RETURN ADDRESS on the envelope…that way if it does not go it will at least get returned to you no return address and it goes in the dead letter office or trash…that’s it.

EYE CANDY

These photos came from a friend and were from a FB list of beautiful churches… but I am only sharing the ones from Italy that I got to see last May so my reason is if you are thinking of european travel ..do put ITALY on the list… so may beautiful buildings and these photos brought back great memories.

Cathedral in Milan

This one was just outside in a piazza from a huge mall what was in itself beautiful but the cathedral was under some renovation on the left side facing it but at first I didn’t even notice it as they had hung a huge drape to protect tourists but the AMAZING THING was that the drape was the exact image of the piece of the cathedral that was being worked on so at first glance and until there was a breeze you would not have even noticed that it was being worked on… that was very cool.

St Peter’s Cathedral in the Vatican

Interior of St Peter’s…this is great photo with sunlight when I was there it was a cloudy day but there happened to be a choir rehearsing inside and they were singing in latin …. it was such a special moment and the sound was so incredible and moving that I am sure I will never forget it. Ok ..here is a TRAVELHINT … If you go and if you plan on going to the VATICAN…. try to spend a little bit more more money ( It will not be cheap and I am not sure exactly how much but our guild was wonderful and worth every penny) and hire a personal guide to take you thru first you get walk past the hordes are there are hordes of people second there is so much to see in the Vatican so do some checking first and decide what you want to see the most and then be sure to tell your guide that…. there is so much to see that you will never see it all in one trip even if you spend the whole day there so its helpful to have someone to be sure your get to see those things you want to see. I found this also to be true of seeing the COLLISEUM…we paid an extra 5 euro when we went in to buy tickets and it was also really worth it… there was a person to give us all the important info and we got to go in a head of those who were waiting in line to go in by themselves and after his/her talk we were free to roam on our own … I am guessing you can also get a personal guild for this but that will cost considerably more but for just a little more we had a much better visit in my opinion…Ok that’s my plug for ITALY and I can’t wait to go back… hope you enjoy both of these cards